Over $60,000 in Grants Awarded to Non Profits by Tolland Greater Together Community Fund

Contact: Merry C. Garrett, Tolland Greater Together Community Fund (TGTCF) Tolland@hfpgcommunityfunds.org

Chris Senecal, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, csenecal@hfpg.org

The Tolland Greater Together Community Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving awarded $60,535.56 in grants to 14 nonprofit organizations to enhance the quality of life of citizens within the town of Tolland and to address vital needs within the community.

The Tolland Greater Together Community Fund aims to support local nonprofits that serve Tolland residents and to address critical needs such as housing security, mental health, food security, childcare, physical wellness, job readiness and literacy. The committee offers support to nonprofit organizations which seek to improve the lives of local residents.

The 14 nonprofit organizations receiving grants include:

• Arts for Learning Connecticut: "Express Yourself" creative arts program at Birch Grove Primary.
• Community Health Resources: Lifesaving behavioral healthcare for the uninsured & underinsured.
• Hicks-Stearns Family Museum: Six summer concerts with transportation support.
• Hockanum Valley Community Council: Dial-A-Ride services for vehicles maintenance & drivers salaries.
• Tolland ALICE Enrichment Partnership: Subsidizes participation & activity fees for ALICE families.
• Tolland Education Foundation: "Where Everybody Belongs" training for Tolland Middle School.
• Tolland High School Counseling Department: Eagle Zen Den mindfulness space.
• Tolland High School Gymnastics Team: Financial assistance for participants in this family funded program.
• Tolland Public Library: Supplies for artistic programs led by staff.
• Tolland Intermediate School: Mindfulness meditation space & meditative instruction training.
• Tolland Senior Center: Technology & wellness equipment for intergenerational programming.
• Town of Tolland: New kayaks, storage racks & life jackets for Tolland Kayak Loaner Program.
• Traveling Toys: Logic, board games and videogaming for lending to teens at Tolland Public Library.
• Tolland Youth Services Community Theater: Amplifying Community Voices via community theater.

In 2019, the Hartford Foundation established the Greater Together Community Funds in each of the 29 towns it serves, including Tolland. In 2021, the Foundation awarded an additional $50,000 to each of the community funds. In January, as part of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving’s Centennial year in 2025 and the Fifth anniversary of the Greater Together Community Fund program, the Foundation unveiled a new $100,000 investment in each of its 29 town-specific Community Funds. This includes $50,000 immediately available for grantmaking and $50,000 allocated to endowment.

The Tolland Greater Together Community Fund is directed by a committee that consists of residents
from various backgrounds and neighborhoods of the town. The Foundation encourages volunteers to
lead its 29 GTCF committees as an initiative for residents to take ownership over the needs of their
towns through grantmaking. You can find more information about the Community Fund, visit this link https://www.hfpg.org/donors/wa... or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/profile.php?i... .

Questions about the Tolland Greater Together Community Fund grant making can be directed to tolland@hfpgcommunityfunds.org. The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving’s community fund program also creates an opportunity for organizations and individuals to make tax-deductible contributions to the Tolland Greater Together Community Fund. All donations are welcome and will be utilized in support of Tolland residents. To donate, visit https://hartford.fcsuite.com/e...

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the community foundation for Hartford and 29 surrounding communities. Made possible by the gifts of generous individuals, families and organizations, the Foundation has awarded grants over $1 billion since its founding in 1925. For more information about the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, visit www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.